Locking device for closure members



May 7, 1963 H. M. RIEGELMAN 3,088,177

LOCKING DEVICE FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS Filed May 9, 1960 im i IN V EN TOR. #422V M @fsa/mw This invention relates generally to Window constructions, and relates specially to a novel 'and improved combined handle and latch device for locking slidable window panels or sashes, or other closure members.

In the prior art, spring-loaded combined handle and latch means for window constructions are known. However, there are certain serious deficiencies in handle and latch constructions with which I am familiar. Among the main drawbacks of these handle and latch means is the relative ease with which the llock can be broken. Also, these devices of the prior Aart generally do not have constructions permitting a substantial mechanical advantage for easy release of a locking projection from a locking position. Further, the prior art devices generally do not have a positive low-friction guide means for positively guiding a locking projection into locking position. And, still further, the position of the handle and latch device is usually mounted at one specic level or height, and cannot be moved to another level or adjusted without disassembly from the closure member, and remounting. If the -usual prior art locking device is moved to a different position, an unsightly screw hole Iremains from the previous mounting.

Bearing in mind all of the foregoing facts, it is a major object of the present invent-ien to provide a handle and lock device for a closure member which is substantially burglar-proof.

Another major object of `this invention is to provide a spring-loaded handle and latch construction for a slidable closure member wherein a mechanical 4advantage is obta-ined by the operator to enable la substantially heavier spring loading of the latch to be employed for a -given release force.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a handle and latch construction for a slidable window closure wherein a positive low-friction guide member is provided for the purpose of guiding the latch to and from a locking position.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a handle and latch device for slidable closure members, such as slidable window panels, which are quickly and easily installed on the closure member, and which can thereafter be moved or adjusted slightly to another position without disassembly of the device and without leaving any unsightly screw -holes in the window panel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a handle and latch device which is very readily installed without `disassembly of the handle and latch device of my invention, and without disassembly or modilication of the slidable closure member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a highly simplified handle and latch device for slidable closure members embodying some or all of the above features, and which is extremely economical to produce, and which has a minimum number of parts.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become clearly understood by referring to the following description, and to the accompanying drawings, in which:A

`FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a window construction having a horizontally slidable closure member, on which is mounted the combined handle and latch device of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section of rats atei 2 any window construction, in plan, 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and showing and latch device in locking position;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2 showing a side elevation of my combined handle and vlatch in locking position in solid line and in released position in phantom;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View, in plan, taken along the line 2`2 of FIGURE 1, but showing the left-hand slidable closure member in va released position; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view, in section, taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 3.

My invention, in general, comprises a combined handle and latch device adapted to be readily mounted preferably on the stile or side vertical frame of a slidable closure member. The closure member has an elongated channel member running the length of the stile. The handle and latch device of my invention is adapted to ride within this stile channel and be stably mounted at any point along the stile.

The handle `and latch proper comprises an elongated latch plate, and a latch tongue centrally Ianxed thereto. The latch plate has ya slot formed therein, and a single fastening pin mounts Ithe latch plate onto the stile. A spring is retained between the fastening pin and va retaining shculder or channel on the latch plate itself. The spring is retained under compression and forces the latch plate laterally, (i.e., in a direction at right angles to lthe direction of t-navel of the slidable closure member) and forwardly into the locking groove of the adjacent window member. An elongated handle is `affixed to the latch plate, and runs the :length thereof.

The relative dimensions of the slot and fastening pin are such that the latch plate can be pivotally moved in .a lateral plane to a limited degree. When sufficient force is exerted at one end of the handle, the latch plate pivots about a remote end thereof in a lateral plane, and the central latch tongue is thereby disengaged from its locking groove. A substantial mechanical `advantage is obtained because -the moment arm, measured from the pivot point to the point of application of the force, is twice as long as the distance from the pivot point to the resultant spring force concentrated on the latch tongue.

The handle has an elongated channel formed therein for mating with an elongated locking iin on the slidable closure member when the latch tongue is in engagement with the locking groove, thereby rendering the locking device of my invention substantially burglar-proof.

As mentioned, the stile of my slidable closure member is formed with a channel running its full length and the fastening pin, and the handle and latch combination just generally described is adapted to be readily mounted at any point in said channel by merely tightening on the fastening pin once the latch and handle combination is slipped into the elongated channel. If my locking device is then to be moved to any other position on the stile, the fastening pin is merely loosened and the entire combination is shifted upwardly or downwardly to the desired level, and tightened.

Referring now specifically to FIGURE f1 of the drawing, a window 10 incorporating the handle and latch device 33 is shown. The window 10 comprises an outer metal frame 12, and left and right Window sashes or panels 14 and l16, respecitvely. Each of the Window panels includes a metal frame 18 and a glass pane 20.

The metal frame 18 of each of the panels 14 and 16 includes horizontal top rails 22 and 22a, respectively, a pair of vertical side stiles 26, 28, and 26a, 28a respectively, and horizontal bottom rails 24, 24a respectively. The rails and stiles of the frame 18 are all preferably taken along the line my combined handle made of extruded aluminum, and are beveled and fastened together in any conventional manner.

For the purposes of this invention, the left window sash 14 and the right Window sash 16 may both be slidable; also only one may be slidable and the other stationary. For the purposes of illustration, and not for limitation, the left-hand sash 14 is a slidable panel, and the handle and latch device 33 of my invention is mounted thereto.

The glass panes 270 are held by their respective metal frames 18 Within peripheral rubber or plastic channel members 29 (see FIGURE 2). While one end of each of the stiles 28, 28a is open to receive the glass pane 20, the other end of these stiles has channels 30, 30a formed therein which run the entire length of these stiles. 'Ihe mouth of each of Vthese channels 30, 30a is narrowed by a pair of inwardly directed anges 32 integrally affixed thereto.

The Ylocking device 33 of my invention is assembled in toto prior to being mounted onto the stile channel 30 at any desired level. The assembly of my locking device will 'first be described. Then its mounting onto the stile channel 30 of the closure member 14 will be set forth.

Referring now, in particular, to FIGURES 2 and 3, my locking device 3-3 comprises a combined handle and latch member 34, which is somewhat elongated in configuration, a fastening pin 42 for fastening said latch member 34 to the stile 28, and a spring 50 urging the latch member 34 into locking position.

The elongated handle and latch member 34 is preferably made of extruded aluminum. The latch member 34'has a ilat latch plate 36, to one vertical edge of which is preferably integrally and centrally aixed a locking projection or locking tongue 38. A handle 40 is preferably integrally affixed to the latch plate 36. The handle 40 may be roughened, as by knurling, or by being serrated as shown.

.A somewhat elongated horizontally disposed slot 41 is formed in the latch plate 36 and the fastening pin 42 is passed therethrough. The fastening pin 42 has a round pin body 43, the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the width of slot 41, and substantially smaller than the length of the slot. The pin y42 also has an enlarged head 44, integrally mounted to an end of the pin body 43. The head 44 is larger in diameter than the width of the slot 41 so as to prevent passage of the pin l42 through the slot.

' The pin 42 is snugly retained within the slot 41, and at the rearward end 41a thereof, by means of a spring 50, made preferably of stainless steel Wire. The central portion 50a of the spring 50 is arcuately shaped, and abuts a portion of an annular pin groove 52 formed in the pin body -43 of pin 42, as is clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The end portions 50h of the spring 50 are slightly rounded and abut the floor 54 of an elongated channel 56 formed on the inner face 36a of the latch plate 36. The spring t] is retained between the annular pin groove 52 and the channel V56, in compression, and thus forces the pin 42 to the rearward end of the slot 41, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

It will be noted that the spring 50 serves to retain the pin 42 in a stable position at the rear end of the slot 41. The spring 50 also retains the pin 42 in a position such that a part of the enlarged head 44 thereof abuts the outer face '36b of the latch plate 36, and serves to guide the latch plate in its lateral movement to and away from its locking position. Y

It will also be seen that the arcuate portion 50a of the spring 50; acts as an indexing'means to automatically and precisely locate the spring between the ends of the latch plate 36.

VThe locking device 33 of my invention is very simply assembled by first pushing the pin body `43 of the pin 42 through the slot `41 until the pin head 44 abuts the outer face 3611 of latch plate 36. The spring 50 is preferably 4 inserted endwise into the retaining channel 56, and moved along the inner face 36a of the latch plate 36. As the arcuate indexing portion 50a of the spring 50 contacts the annular pin groove 52, the spring 50 is compressed its maximum extent until the arcuate portion slips into the pin groove 52, and the spring is automatically located and held thereby. 'I'he spring `50 is then placed between retaining channel 56 and the annular retaining pin groove 52, and the pin 42 is stably held onto the handle and latch member 34. The thus assembled locking device retains the pin head 43 in engagement with the outer face 36b of latch plate 36.

My assembled locking device 33 includes clamping or mounting means lfor mounting the assembled locking device 33 to the `closure member 14. In the preferred form of my invention, these means are provided by a nut and yscrew :arrangement or combination 60, 62. The pin 42 has a central bore 64 through which is passed the screw `6i?. The screw 60 is retained on the locking device 33 Iby nut 62.

The finally assembled looking device 33 can be shipped independently of the slid-able Window closure members, and is readily mounted to the slidable closure members, wit-'hout disassembly, as will .now be described.

In mounting the handle and latch device, the nut 62 is loosely retained on the free end of screw 60, `and the nut 62 is slipped into either end of the stile channel -30 be- `fore the closure member 14 is set into the Window frame 18. The nut diameter is larger than the mouth of the stile channel 30, and is loosely retained therewithin 'by the inwardly directed flanges 32. The w-hole locking de- Vice 33 thus rides loosely along the stile chan-nel 30 until the approximate desired position is attained. The screw 60 is then tightened until the .nut 62 bites firmly into the flanges 32 of the `channel 30, :and the handle and latch combination 10 is thus firmly mounted onto the stile 28. The latch ton-gue 38 normally protrudes laterally forwardly of the stile 28a under the normal urging of the compressed spring 50, as clearly `shown in FIGURE 2.

After the handle and latch device 33 is mounted in the :approximate desired position on the slidable closure member 14, the closure member 14 is set into the metal frame 18, in the usual manner, If some adjustment of the height `of my locking device -33 is desired, screw 60 need only Ibe loosened, and the locking device moved to lthe exact height desired and screw 60 tightened. The closure member 14 is then slid into the locking position shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

In the locking position, the protruding latch tongue 38 seats in a locking groove 66 formed in the stile 28a of the lstationary window sash 16. The locking groove 66 runs the length of the entire stile 28al (see FIGURE 1), so that locking is accomplished regard-less of the height of my locking device 313. 'Ihe groove 66 is formed with an enlarged mouth so as to facilitate the entry of the lock.- ing tongue 38 thereinto (as shown `in FIGURE 2). The locking .tongue 38, being integral with the latch plate 36, is urged into the locking groove 66, under the inuence of lspring 50.

Weatherprooting strips 68, 68a are mounted in adjacent sides of the stiles 28 -and 28a; when the Window sashes 14 `and 16 are in locking position, these weatherstrips abut against flanges 70, 'lila on the adjacent stiles 28, 28a respectively, so as to prevent entry of cold 'air between the stiles 2S, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 2. The flanges 70, 70a are L-shaped, and overlap each other in interlocking engagement. Y

In order to release the window sash 16, the handle 40 must be manually moved laterally rearwardly away from the stile'28 so'that the locking tongue 38 is removed from locking groove 66. This may be accomplished in -one of several ways. i A

Referring to FIGURE 3, the handle 40 may be laterally moved by exerting a lateral force at one end thereof, as indicated by Ithe solid arrow 72 in FIGURE 3. The latch tongue 38 is thereby completely removed from the locking groove 66, to the position show-n in phantom line.

As mentioned, the width of the slot 41 is slightly larger than the diameter of the pin body 43. Also, the slot 41 is somewhat elongated so that as `the manual force 72 is exerted at the upper end of the handle 4%, the latch plate land handle 34 move laterally rearwardly land tilta'bly until the pin body 43 is engaged by the front end of the slot 4l, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The latch plate and handle 34 .thus do not pivot about the pin 42, but rather pivot about the lower forward end 74 of the latch plate 36 as shown by the phantom outline in FIGURE 3. When the pin body 43 engages the front end of the slot 41, it will be noted that the latch tongue 3S is completely disengaged or removed from the locking groove 66, and assumes the position shown in phantom in FIGURE 3.

The pivoting arrangement described -allows a mechanical advantage of approximately 2:l to -be obtained. The fulcrum or pivot point is at point 74, lthe resultant spring force exerted by spring 50 is exerted on the latch tongue 38, and the opposing manual force 72 is exerted at the upper end of the handle 4Q. Since the spring force 72 is exerted at approximately twice the distance from the fulcrum 74 than the opposing spring force, it will be seen that an approximately 2:1 mechanical advantage is obtained `during disengagement of my handle and latch device.

The approximately 2:1 mechanical advantage is an actual mechanical advantage because the frictional force opposing disengagement is very low.

The frictionally engaging pin head 44 is preferably made of a low fn'ction plastic material such as nylon. The frictionally engaging enlarged head 44 of the pin 42 acts as a guide for the latch pla-te 36. Specifically, the head 44 of the pin 42 restrains the latch plate 36 from any longitudinal movement or wobble and guides the latch plate 36 and latchin-g tongue 38 as it is disengaged from the locking groove 66, and also as it is laterally moved into engagement with the locking groove 66.

After the latch tongue 38 is completely removed from the locking groove 66, the sash 14 may be moved to the right as indicated in FIGURE 4 by the solid arrow, thereby opening the Window 10.

The combined handle and latch 34 can also be disengaged from locking groove 66 by exerting a manual force at the lower end thereof, in which case the handle and latch combination pivots about the upper forward end; however, t-he actual mechanical advantage still remains about 2:1.

The handle and latch 34 can also be disengaged by a force exerted near its center, but in such a case, much of the above-described mechanical advantage is nullitied. Because my handle and latch device 33 has inherent in its structure a mechanical advantage of about 2:1, a stronger spring force may be employed than in the prior art so as to insure easy release, and that no accidental dislodgement or disengagement of the handle and latch 34 will occur. Also, even after substantial and continued use of the handle and latch, the stronger spring force which can be employed in my invention insures efficient locking.

In order to make my locking device 33 extremely diiiicult to break, a preferably integral n S0 is afixed to, and protrudes laterally away from, the stile 28. The iin 8) runs the entire length of the stile 28. In the engaged position of the handle and latch, shown in FIG- URE 2, the iin 89 seats into a channel 82 formed within, and the length of, the handle 40, under the urging of spring 50.

Thus, in the event that an attempt is made to break the latch mechanism 33 by movement of the window sash 16 away from the slidable sash 14, eg., in the direction indicated by the solid arrow 84 in FIGURE 2, not only does the fastening pin 42 resist such disengagement but the elongated n 86, on which the handle 40 is seated,

provides a substantially larger area movement of the window sash 16.

lf the pin 42 were the sole fastening means for the handle and latch 34, it would be possible for a severely strong forcing movement, in the direction of arrow 84, to cause disengagement since the fastening pin 42 is held only by the screw and nut combination 60, 62. However, with the addition of the elongated fin 80, which is seated in the handle 40, it becomes extremely dicult, if not impossible, to break my locking device 33 from the outside of the window.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided for a substantially burglar-proof handle and latch combination in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner.

The flange or iin 80, as mentioned, runs along substantially the entire length of the stile 28, and in mounting my latch combination 33 onto the stile 2S, tin 8l) is rst seated into the channel 32 of the handle 40, and the nut 62, loosely mounted on the screw 66, is Placed into the channel 3Q of the stile 28. The latch combination 33 is then slidably moved to a desired height, and fixed at that height by tightening of the screw 66, as described previously.

The channel S2 has a mouth wider than the iin 80, but the floor of the channel is substantially equal in width to the iin width, as is clearly seen in FIGURE 4. This permits the latch combination 33 to be readily self-aligned as soon as it is mounted on the stile 28.

A pair of ribs 90 are preferably integrally formed on the inner side 36a of the latch plate 36, running parallel to the handle 49 and terminating on either side of slot 41, as is clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. These ribs positively prevent any jamming of my handle and latch device 33. Thus, if the latch plate 36 is disengaged by a force exerted at the center of the handle 40 so that there is complete separation of the handle from the iin 80, as shown in FIGURE 5, the ribs 90 prevent the ledge 92 of the handle from being cocked on the iin even if the handle and latch member 34 were not securely fastened by fastening pin 42. If the ribs 99 were not present, it would be possible, if the fastening pin 42 was not too tight, to slightly tilt the disengaged handle 46 to the left, in the direction of the solid arrow 93 in FIGURE 5, enabling the handle ledge 92 to hang up on the end face 9S of the iin 81B, and prevent engagement of the latch tongue 38 within locking groove 66. The presence of ribs 9G prevents such tilting movement since the ribs 90 are in engagement with either the flange 32 or the iin 80 as the handle and latch 34 move from engaged to disengaged position, thereby preventing jamming.

It will be noted that the stiles 28 and 28a are identical so that either sash 14 or 16 can be used interchangeably. It will thus be seen that a simple and inexpensive locking mechanism has been provided which incorporates ready assembly means, means for obtaining a mechanical advantage, an anti-jam device, a burglaraprooiing member, and a fastening pin that also functions to retain the spring and to automatically locate it within the locking device, and also functions to guide the latch plate to and from a locking position. Furthermore, I have provided a locking mechanism that can be readily set at any height on the stile of the window sash, and then readily moved from that height to another height along the stile and again xed in place without disassembly and without leaving unsightly screw holes in the stile.

While I have shown and described one preferred embodiment of my device, various changes and modifications `can `be made which lie within the skill of the art and within the scope of my invention. Hence, my embodiment shown and described herein is to be taken as illustrative only, the scope of my invention being set forth in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A locking device for locking a slidable closure member into a locking groove in a second member, which of resistance to such comprises: a .locking projection having a Kgenerally flat plane structure mounted onto said closure member for pivoting movement generally in the plane of said locking projection; a spring means normally urging said locking projection into said locking groove `of said secondmember; means for retaining said spring means in normally urging relationship with said locking projection; and

handle means, `aibred to said locking projection, for pivotally disengaging said locking projection from said locking groove against the normal urging of said spring, and thereby unlocking said closure member.

2. A locking device for locking a slidable closure member into a locking groove in a second member, which cornprises: a locking projection having a generally flat plane structure pivotally mounted -onto said slidable closure member for pivoting movement generally in the plane of said locking projection; a spring means having a resultant force concentrated onV said locking projection and normally urging said locking projection into said locking groove of said second member; means aixed to said slidable closure member for retaining said spring means in normally urging relationship with said locking projection; and elongated handle means, axed to said locking projection, for pivotally moving said locking projection about a point remote from the resultant of said spring force so as to obtain a mechanical advantage in disengaging said locking projection from said locking groove.

3. A locking device for locking a slidable closure member into a locking groove in a second member, which comprises: an elongated locking member having a generally at plane structure including a centrally located locking projection thereon and mounted onto said slidable closure member for pivotal movement generally in thet plane of said locking member; a spring means having a resultant force concentrated on said locking projection, and normally urging said locking projection into said locking groove of said second member, said spring means having one portion thereof retained by said locking projection; means afxed to said closure member for retaining another portion of said spring means so that said spring means normally urges said locking projection into said locking groove; and elongated handle means axed to said locking member for pivotally moving said locking projection about an end of said locking member so as to overcome the resultant force of said spring means, the length of the handle means measured from that end of it, furthest from the point of pivot, to the point of pivot being substantially greater than the distance between the point of application of the resultant spring force and said point of pivot, to thereby secure a substantial mechanical advantage.

4. A locking device for locking a slidable closure member into a locking groove in a second member, which comprises: a latch plate; pin means for pivotally fastening said latch plate to said slidable closure member; a latch tongue aixed to said latch plate; a spring normally urging said latch tongue into the locking groove of said second member; means on said latch plate for retaining one portion of said spring, said pin means retaining another portion of said spring so that said spring normally urges said latch tongue into said locking groove; and elongated handle means affixed to said latch plate, for pivotally disengaging said latch plate from said locking groove against the normal urging of said spring, and thereby unlocking said slidable closure member.

5. The locking device of claim 4 wherein said spring exerts a force concentrated on said latch tongue, said latch tongue is located centrally of said latch plate, and the latch plate is pivotally movable about its ends whereby as a force is exerted on one end of said elongated handle means sucient to overcome the spning force, the latch plate pivots about an end remote from said one end of said elongated handle means, the ratio of the distance a.'b, a being measured'from the point of application of the force on said elongated handle means to the point of pivot, and b being measured from the point of concentration of the spring force to the point of pivot, being approximately equal to the mechanical advantage and substantially greater than 1.

6. A locking device for locking a slidable closure member into a locking groove in a second member, which comprises: a latch plate defining a slot therein; a latch tonge axed to said latch plate; a fastening pin having a pin body loosely passing through said slot of said latch plate and having an enlarged head abutting said latch plate and preventing passage of said pin body through said slot, said fastening pin being aiiixed to said slidable closure member and thereby pivotally mounting said latch plate and latch tongue to said slidable closure member; a iirst spring retaining means axed to said latch plate; a second spring retaining means formed by said fastening pin; a spring normally retained, in compression, between said first and second spring retaining means, and normally urging said latch tongue laterally forwardly into said locking groove of said second niember; and handle means, axed to said latch plate, for pivotally disengaging said latch plate from said locking groove against the normal urging of said Spring, and thereby unlocking said slidable closure member.

7. A locking device for locking a slidable closure member into a locking groove in a second member, which compnises: an elongated latch plate, having an integral latch tongue aiixed thereto, said latch plate defining an elongated slot therein and having an inner and an outer face; a fastening pin affixed to said slidable closure member, said fastening pin having a pin `body passing through slot of said latch plate with clearance, and having an enlarged head frictionally engaging said outer face of said latch plate preventing passage of said pin body through said slot, said fastening pin .thereby mounting said latch plate for limited pivotal movement about either of the ends of said latch plate; an elongated retaining channel integrally atlixed to said inner face of said latch plate; an annular retaining groove formed in said pin body; an elongated spring being normally retained, in compression, between said annular retaining groove and said elongated retaining channel, to thereby normally urgey said latch plate laterally forwardly into said locking groove of said second member; and an enlongated handle aixed to said latch plate for lpivotally moving said latch plate out of said locking groove against the normal urging of said spring, and thereby unlocking said slidable closure member.

8. The locking device of claim 7 wherein said spring has an indexing portionfor automatically locating said spring between the ends of said latch plate.

9. The locking device of claim 7 wherein said spring has an arcuate section which is seated Within said annular groove, said spring thereby being self-locating within said latch plate.

l0. The locking device of claim 7 wherein said enlarged head of said fastening pin is made of low friction plastic, and guides said latch plate laterally during its locking and unlocking movement.

ll. 'I'he combination of a window construction having a longitudinally slidable closure member including a stile, a second window member, and an adjustable locking device for locking said slidable closure member into a locking groove of said second window member, which comprises: an elongated channel aixed to said stileand running substantially the entire length of said stile; a pair of separated anges directed inwardly across the mouth of the channel, and running substantially the entire length of said channel; a locking device; and mounting means for releasably mounting said locking device to said closure member including a clamping means hav ing a nut loosely -tting within said stile channel when said clamping means is loose, said nut 4tightly engaging said flanges of said stile channel when said clamping means is tightened.

12. The window construction of claim -11 wherein said clamping means comprises a screw in addition to said nut.

13. The window construction of claim 1l wherein said locking device comprises an elongated latch plate, an elongated slot in said latch plate, a central pin having a pin body loosely passing through said slot in said latch plate -to thereby allow pivotal movement of said latch plate and having an enlarged head preventing passage of said pin through said slot, a latch tongue aflixed to said latch plate, spring means retained in compression between said latch plate and said central pin normal- 1y urging said latch tongue into said locking groove of said second window member, and means for pivotally moving said latch plate and tongue from said locking groove overcoming the force of said spring.

14. The window construction of claim 11 wherein said locking device comprises a locking projection; spring means normally urging said locking projection into locking position; means for retaining the spring means in said normally urging relationship; elongated handle means ailixed to said locking projection for pivotally moving said locking projection out of said locking vgroove against the normal urging of said spring, said handle means having a channel formed therein, and wherein said stile of said slidable closure member has an elongated upstanding flange running substantially the entire length of said stile, which is retained within said channel in said handle when said locking device is being normally urged by said spring means to a locking position.

15. In a window construction having a longitudinally slidable closure member which includes a stile having a laterally extending end face and a longitudinally eX- tending outer side face, and a second window member, a locking device in combination with said window construction, which comprises: a latch plate, having an inner face, mounted onto the end face of said stile for lateral movement toward and away from a locking groove in said second window member; a ange, mounted to said stile, and extending laterally from the outer side face of said stile; a handle axed to said latch plate, and having a channel formed therein, said ange bein-g retained within said channel during locking of said latch plate within said locking groove.

16. The window construction of claim 15 wherein at 10 least one rib is aflixed to the inner face of said latch plate, whereby, as said handle and latch plate are moved away from said locking groove, said rib rides against said end Iface of said stile and positively prevents any portion of said handle from being cocked on said lflange during and after its lateral rearward movement.

17. A locking device for mounting onto a stile of a slidable closure member, which comprises: a latch plate having a locking projection thereon and an elongated slot formed therein; a fastening means passing through said slot for fastening said latch plate to said stile; a first spring retaining means formed on one face of said latch plate; a second spring retaining means formed by said fastening means; a spring normally retained, under compression, -between said lirst and second spring retaining means for forcing said fastening means to one end of said slot; and a handle means axed to said latch plate.

18. A locking device for mounting onto a stile of a slidable closure member, which comprises: -a latch plate having a slot formed therein; a latch tongue integrally axed to said latch plate; a fastening means for fastening said latch plate Ito said stile which includes a pin having a pin body passing loosely through said slot, and having an enlarged head on one end of said pin body abutting one face of said latch plate; a spring retaining groove formed in said pin body; a second spring retaining means formed on said latch plate; an elongated spring, the ends of which are retained by sai-d second spring retaining means, and the central portion of which is retained by said groove in said pin body, said spring being normally retained under compression thereby forcing said fastening pin to one end of said slot, and preventing said fastening pin from movement out of said slot; and a handle means aixed to said latch plate for moving said latch plate in a plane at substantially right angles to said pin body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,198,862 McCormack Sept. 16, 1916 2,598,526 Fraim May 27, 1952 2,892,652 Johnson June 30, 1959 2,953,824 Minick Sept. 27, 1960 

17. A LOCKING DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ONTO A STILE OF A SLIDABLE CLOSURE MEMBER, WHICH COMPRISES: A LATCH PLATE HAVING A LOCKING PROJECTION THEREON AND AN ELONGATED SLOT FORMED THEREIN; A FASTENING MEANS PASSING THROUGH SAID SLOT FOR FASTENING SAID LATCH PLATE TO SAID STILE; A FIRST SPRING RETAINING MEANS FORMED ON ONE FACE OF SAID LATCH PLATE; A SECOND SPRING RETAINING MEANS FORMED BY SAID FASTENING MEANS; A SPRING NORMALLY RETAINED, UNDER COMPRESSION, BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND SPRING RETAINING MEANS FOR FORCING SAID FASTENING MEANS TO ONE END OF SAID SLOT; AND A HANDLE MEANS AFFIXED TO ONE LATCH PLATE. 